Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09TAIPEI1081
2009-09-03 08:24:00
CONFIDENTIAL
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
PREMIER CALLS FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT COOPERATION,
how-toVZCZCXRO7639 OO RUEHCN RUEHGH RUEHVC DE RUEHIN #1081/01 2460824 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 030824Z SEP 09 FM AIT TAIPEI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2259 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK IMMEDIATE 4700 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 0229 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEHC/DEPT OF AGRICULTURE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHHMUNA/USPACOM HONOLULU HI IMMEDIATE RHEFHLC/DEPT OF HOMELAND SECURITY ASIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 001081
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USDA FOR FAS/OSTA WETZEL, HAMILTON, SHNITZLER;
FAS/OCRA RADLER, BEILLARD; AND FAS/OFSO WAINIO.
DHS FOR FEMA
BANGKOK FOR USAID/OFDA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ETRD EAID EAGR TW CH
SUBJECT: PREMIER CALLS FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT COOPERATION,
SEES "NO PROBLEM" WITH BEEF DEAL
Classified By: The Director for reasons 1.4 (b/d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 001081
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USDA FOR FAS/OSTA WETZEL, HAMILTON, SHNITZLER;
FAS/OCRA RADLER, BEILLARD; AND FAS/OFSO WAINIO.
DHS FOR FEMA
BANGKOK FOR USAID/OFDA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ETRD EAID EAGR TW CH
SUBJECT: PREMIER CALLS FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT COOPERATION,
SEES "NO PROBLEM" WITH BEEF DEAL
Classified By: The Director for reasons 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) Summary: Premier Liu Chao-shiuan agreed with the
Director during their September 3 introductory meeting that
Taiwan and the United States should strengthen disaster
management cooperation. Liu, who is spearheading Typhoon
Morakot reconstruction efforts, suggested that the Dalai
Lama's visit to comfort typhoon victims should not disrupt
relations with China, and that the typhoon offered the best
opportunity for such a visit with minimum offense to Beijing.
Liu also agreed with the Director that the time was right to
strengthen U.S.-Taiwan relations on trade and other issues.
End Summary.
Typhoon Shows Need for Cooperation
--------------
2. (C) The United States wanted to follow up on its relief
assistance to victims of Typhoon Morokat, the Director told
Premier Liu Chao-hsiuan during their September 3 introductory
meeting. A Federal Emergency Management Agency
representative would be in Taiwan to mark the 10th
anniversary of the huge September 1999 earthquake, he said,
and to discuss disaster management. The Premier welcomed the
suggestion made by USAID officials who assessed Morakot
relief efforts that Taiwan prepare for future emergencies by
holding interagency tabletop exercises. Liu agreed with the
Director's suggestion that we maintain regular dialogue on
such issues.
3. (C) Noting that both he and President Ma had been heavily
criticized by the media for their initial response to the
typhoon, the Premier defended the government's relief efforts
as timely and effective. Helicopters had rescued about 7,000
people living in remote villages as soon as weather
permitted, he said, more than half of whom were airlifted
within two days. More recently, more than 5,000 victims were
transferred to temporary housing in camps previously used by
soldiers involved in relief work. In total, Liu said, he had
spent 10 days in the south directing post-typhoon activities;
more than half of the Cabinet had joined him.
4. (C) Liu was likewise positive about the island's
preparation for H1N1, which has received saturation media
coverage here. Taiwan's experience battling SARS in 2003 had
been invaluable in preparing for the latest flu onslaught, he
said.
Dalai Lama Invitation a Blessing in Disguise
--------------
5. (C) Complicating the situation in the typhoon's aftermath
was the opposition Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP)
invitation to the Dalai Lama to come to Taiwan and console
victims, Liu said. President Ma, who came under political
fire for rejecting a request from the Tibetan spiritual
leader to visit last year, the Premier suggested, had little
choice but to accept this time. Nevertheless, the visit
should not disturb warming Taiwan-China ties as long as the
Dalai Lama stuck to humanitarian activities. Sooner or
later, Liu said, the Ma administration would have had to
agree to a Dalai Lama visit. The opposition invitation after
the typhoon offered the best possible circumstances to do so
with minimum offense to Beijing.
Forward on Economic, Trade Issues
--------------
6. (C) When the Director noted that the U.S. and Taiwan were
close to resolving the beef market access issue, Liu said an
agreement would be "no problem." He also responded
positively when Deputy Director Robert Wang said he hoped the
Executive Yuan's 15-day review of the beef agreement would go
smoothly. Quick resolution of beef and agriculture issues,
the Director stressed, would allow the two sides to focus on
the TIFA agenda.
TAIPEI 00001081 002 OF 002
7. (C) The Premier offered an upbeat assessment of Taiwan's
recovery from the global recession, saying the island was
doing "reasonably well" and did not need additional economic
stimulus. Unemployment, he predicted, would peak at 6
percent and would begin to drop, albeit slowly, after
September.
STANTON
SIPDIS
STATE PASS USDA FOR FAS/OSTA WETZEL, HAMILTON, SHNITZLER;
FAS/OCRA RADLER, BEILLARD; AND FAS/OFSO WAINIO.
DHS FOR FEMA
BANGKOK FOR USAID/OFDA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/03/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON ETRD EAID EAGR TW CH
SUBJECT: PREMIER CALLS FOR DISASTER MANAGEMENT COOPERATION,
SEES "NO PROBLEM" WITH BEEF DEAL
Classified By: The Director for reasons 1.4 (b/d)
1. (C) Summary: Premier Liu Chao-shiuan agreed with the
Director during their September 3 introductory meeting that
Taiwan and the United States should strengthen disaster
management cooperation. Liu, who is spearheading Typhoon
Morakot reconstruction efforts, suggested that the Dalai
Lama's visit to comfort typhoon victims should not disrupt
relations with China, and that the typhoon offered the best
opportunity for such a visit with minimum offense to Beijing.
Liu also agreed with the Director that the time was right to
strengthen U.S.-Taiwan relations on trade and other issues.
End Summary.
Typhoon Shows Need for Cooperation
--------------
2. (C) The United States wanted to follow up on its relief
assistance to victims of Typhoon Morokat, the Director told
Premier Liu Chao-hsiuan during their September 3 introductory
meeting. A Federal Emergency Management Agency
representative would be in Taiwan to mark the 10th
anniversary of the huge September 1999 earthquake, he said,
and to discuss disaster management. The Premier welcomed the
suggestion made by USAID officials who assessed Morakot
relief efforts that Taiwan prepare for future emergencies by
holding interagency tabletop exercises. Liu agreed with the
Director's suggestion that we maintain regular dialogue on
such issues.
3. (C) Noting that both he and President Ma had been heavily
criticized by the media for their initial response to the
typhoon, the Premier defended the government's relief efforts
as timely and effective. Helicopters had rescued about 7,000
people living in remote villages as soon as weather
permitted, he said, more than half of whom were airlifted
within two days. More recently, more than 5,000 victims were
transferred to temporary housing in camps previously used by
soldiers involved in relief work. In total, Liu said, he had
spent 10 days in the south directing post-typhoon activities;
more than half of the Cabinet had joined him.
4. (C) Liu was likewise positive about the island's
preparation for H1N1, which has received saturation media
coverage here. Taiwan's experience battling SARS in 2003 had
been invaluable in preparing for the latest flu onslaught, he
said.
Dalai Lama Invitation a Blessing in Disguise
--------------
5. (C) Complicating the situation in the typhoon's aftermath
was the opposition Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP)
invitation to the Dalai Lama to come to Taiwan and console
victims, Liu said. President Ma, who came under political
fire for rejecting a request from the Tibetan spiritual
leader to visit last year, the Premier suggested, had little
choice but to accept this time. Nevertheless, the visit
should not disturb warming Taiwan-China ties as long as the
Dalai Lama stuck to humanitarian activities. Sooner or
later, Liu said, the Ma administration would have had to
agree to a Dalai Lama visit. The opposition invitation after
the typhoon offered the best possible circumstances to do so
with minimum offense to Beijing.
Forward on Economic, Trade Issues
--------------
6. (C) When the Director noted that the U.S. and Taiwan were
close to resolving the beef market access issue, Liu said an
agreement would be "no problem." He also responded
positively when Deputy Director Robert Wang said he hoped the
Executive Yuan's 15-day review of the beef agreement would go
smoothly. Quick resolution of beef and agriculture issues,
the Director stressed, would allow the two sides to focus on
the TIFA agenda.
TAIPEI 00001081 002 OF 002
7. (C) The Premier offered an upbeat assessment of Taiwan's
recovery from the global recession, saying the island was
doing "reasonably well" and did not need additional economic
stimulus. Unemployment, he predicted, would peak at 6
percent and would begin to drop, albeit slowly, after
September.
STANTON